Hyacinth Mascarenhas

Bio

Hyacinth is a graduate of the George Washington University where she majored in Journalism and Mass Communications. Her interests include cultural, social and political trends in the Middle East and South Asia, as well as human rights issues across the globe.
13 Photos That Show a Side to Sudan You Rarely See in the Media
By Hyacinth Mascarenhas
People with no ties to Sudan might only associated it with strife. Headlines seem only to scream about conflict, poverty and environmental issues. While these serious issues cannot and should not be ignored, that narrative still presents us with a…
Vivid Photos Capture the Aftermath of a Massive Gas Explosion in Taiwan
By Hyacinth Mascarenhas
A series of underground gas explosions ripped through and devastated the port city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan's second largest city, late Thursday, killing at least 24 people and injuring 270 others. Believed to be the nation's deadliest gas explosion,…
19 Photos That Capture the Beauty of Eid Around the World
By Hyacinth Mascarenhas
Eid Mubarak. Selamat hari Raya. Happy Eid. Celebrated with different, local greetings, traditions and festivities, Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, a month where more than 1 billion Muslims all over the world fast from dawn until sunset.  The…
9 Beautiful Photos That Show How Young People Come of Age Around the World
By Hyacinth Mascarenhas
When does a child turn into an adult? In the United States, that moment probably comes somewhere after emerging from the angry fog of being a teenager. It's a relatively recent construct; in the U.S., the idea of teenagers didn't really manifest…
Why the West Loves Fake Stories About Jihadists Repressing Women
By Hyacinth Mascarenhas
Ever since Islamic State (IS) captured Mosul in June, we've seen a steady stream of horrifying headlines about violence, discrimination and extreme brutality.  The scenes from Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, have been troubling: So far, the group…
11 Photos of Breakfast Around the World Show What Americans Should Really Be Eating
By Hyacinth Mascarenhas
Think about what you ate for breakfast this morning. Was it fluffy pancakes, buttery waffles, an egg, bacon and cheese sandwich, a bowl of cereal or just a to-go cup of coffee? Despite the often repeated, motherly mantra about how breakfast is the…
9 Images That Show How Argentina Is Still Great Despite Losing the World Cup
By Hyacinth Mascarenhas
A sea of pain-stricken but still proud fans gathered Sunday at the iconic Obelisk in Buenos Aires to celebrate their team's gutsy performance in Argentina's first World Cup finals appearance in 24 years. Image Credit: Getty Images.  After the long…
11 Vintage Images That Will Make You Wish You Lived in Cairo in the 1960s
By Hyacinth Mascarenhas
In the 1960s, Cairo was a very different place.  Egypt was known as the center of learning and intellect in the Arab world, and Cairo was considered a paradise of culture, conversation and contemporary arts: The city produced artful music and…
11 Beautiful Photos That Show How Weddings Are Celebrated Around the World
By Hyacinth Mascarenhas
Wedding season is upon us in the United States, and with it comes a list of old traditions: white dresses, a walk down the aisle, a bouquet toss and a towering, elaborate cake. It also means a couple of new traditions, like the sometimes…
The Relatives of a Murdered Palestinian Teen Receive Comfort From an Unlikely Source
By Hyacinth Mascarenhas
As tensions between Palestinians and Israelis remain high, there is a moment of hope in the middle of everything that is bleak: The father of a murdered Palestinian teenager was consoled by the uncle of a slain Israeli teenager. "We expressed our…